UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Gwyn Lewis, paid a farewell visit to Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Tuesday. During the meeting, she praised Dr. Yunus’s recent New York trip to attend the 80th UN General Assembly as a “highly successful mission.” Lewis highlighted his meetings with world leaders and his speech at the historic UN conference on the Rohingya crisis. She also commended the inclusion of six major political party leaders in the delegation as a strong symbol of national unity. The discussion emphasized the importance of sustainable cooperation, innovation, and inclusive growth ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming national election. Reflecting on her tenure, Lewis called serving in Bangladesh a great honor and lauded the people’s resilience and creativity. She appreciated Dr. Yunus’s lifelong dedication to social innovation, justice, and inclusive development, which continues to inspire millions worldwide.

In a chilling courtroom testimony, Constable Rashedul Islam described the horrifying events of August 5, 2023, at Ashulia Police Station. While off duty, Rashed heard sudden gunshots that shattered the quiet afternoon. Looking outside, he saw people screaming and running in panic. When he went downstairs, he found a van filled with dead bodies. His superior officer, former OC Sayed, instructed him, “Rashed, your hands are free—cover the bodies.” Rashed used a blue banner to conceal the corpses. Later, he learned the bodies had been burned in a police vehicle. His testimony was presented before the International Crimes Tribunal-2 as the 12th witness in a case involving the killing of seven people during the July-August movement. Former MP Saiful Islam and 15 others are accused, eight of whom remain fugitives. The tribunal has scheduled the next hearing for Wednesday, October 8.

A recent World Bank report states that rising youth unemployment and growing wealth inequality in Asia are fueling fears of large-scale protests. Although overall job opportunities have increased, young people are finding it increasingly difficult to secure quality employment, forcing many into low-wage and informal work. In China and Indonesia, one in every seven young people is unemployed, while middle-class families are rapidly losing their financial stability. The report warns that if this trend continues, social stability across the region could collapse. In recent times, Generation Z–led protests have surged across Africa and Asia, with young people in Indonesia, the Philippines, Kenya, and Mongolia taking to the streets against corruption, inequality, and unemployment. In Bangladesh, waves of protests against misrule, corruption, inequality, and joblessness have spread across the country, while in Nepal, public outrage over the lavish lifestyles of those in power has ultimately brought down the government.

Millions of people across Europe have taken to the streets, calling for an end to two years of Israeli attacks in Gaza and the rapid delivery of humanitarian aid. The largest turnout was in Amsterdam, where around 250,000 people marched through the city center waving Palestinian flags and demanding their government take a tougher stance on Israel and halt arms supplies. Protests were also held in Istanbul, Ankara, Barcelona, Sofia, and Rabat, highlighting global solidarity with Palestinians. Amnesty International organized many of these demonstrations, urging European governments to use all diplomatic and economic measures to pressure Israel. Protesters emphasized the urgent need to stop bloodshed, label the ongoing oppression as genocide, and suspend arms trade and other collaborations with Israel, reflecting widespread public anger over the humanitarian crisis.

Interim government’s financial adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed announced that financial benefits for officials and employees of government, semi-government, autonomous, and state-owned organizations are being increased. Alongside, the government plans to introduce a new pay scale soon. He also stated that arrears related to subsidies are being cleared. Following an advisory council meeting on public procurement, he dismissed reports suggesting the government is worried about financing the increased expenditure due to stagnant revenue collection. Dr. Ahmed emphasized that while the economy remains stable, challenges such as poverty reduction and food price inflation persist. To ensure food security, the government decided to import 50,000 metric tons each of wheat and rice—wheat from the United States and rice from India. He added that there is no shortage of rice in the country, but maintaining adequate reserves is essential. The Open Market Sale (OMS) program has also resumed to control prices.

After nearly two years of deadly conflict, Israel and the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas have started indirect negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza. The discussions, beginning at 6:30 p.m. local time, involve delegations from both sides, with Egypt and Qatar acting as mediators. Officials from the mediating countries are holding separate meetings with each party to facilitate dialogue. The talks focus on progressing the first phase of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, which seeks conditions for the release of a set number of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for all Israeli captives. While Hamas has agreed to some elements of the proposal, key issues, especially concerning demilitarization, remain unresolved. Diplomats in the Middle East view the Sharm El-Sheikh talks as a critical step toward resolving the Gaza crisis.

The family of the late Khondkar Delwar Hossain, former BNP secretary-general, has alleged that four men claiming to be local Jubo Dal leaders forcibly demanded money from them while threatening their safety. The incident occurred on October 3 at Flat 4/B, House No. 653, Greenway, Noyatola, Hatirjheel. Fearing for their lives, the victims withdrew 80,000 taka from a nearby booth and were forced to sign a cheque for an additional 20,000 taka. The assailants reportedly confiscated mobile phones and intimidated children, returning the next day to threaten the family to vacate the flat. Hatirjheel Police have registered a case, are analyzing CCTV footage, and are investigating the suspects’ political affiliations. Khondkar Delwar Hossain was a five-time MP, former BNP chief whip, and recipient of the Ekushey Padak for his contributions to the Language Movement.

Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), expressed confidence in his party’s victory in the upcoming national elections, asserting that BNP is positioned to form the government independently. Speaking to the UK-based Financial Times, Rahman said he would soon return from London to contest in the elections, emphasizing that the student-led uprising will not be complete until Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian rule ends and a free, fair election is held. He welcomed young activists into politics, promising a diversified economy through initiatives such as making Bangladesh a supply hub for global e-commerce firms like Amazon and Alibaba. Rahman criticized Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule for corruption and suppression of dissent, including extrajudicial killings. He pledged that a BNP government would break the cycle of political vengeance and continue efforts to recover alleged misappropriated funds. The BNP leader also stressed a “Bangladesh first” foreign policy toward India.

Syria has officially released the results of its first parliamentary election since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024. The election commission announced on Monday that the outcomes for two-thirds of parliamentary seats are final and not subject to appeal. President Ahmad al-Shara will appoint members for the remaining one-third of seats, a process separate from the electoral body. On Sunday, Syrian voters cast ballots to elect representatives for 210 parliamentary seats, with 1,578 candidates competing, including 14 percent women. Authorities described the election as a key step in Syria’s political transition, marking the country’s first post-Assad electoral process. Officials emphasized the transparency and finality of the results, while noting that the appointment of remaining members by the president ensures a complete parliamentary body.

Iran has announced it will end its cooperation agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), claiming the deal is no longer relevant after Western nations reinstated UN sanctions. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Britain, France, and Germany — signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal — have “diminished their role” by reimposing sanctions. Tehran also accused the IAEA of double standards for failing to condemn Israeli attacks on its nuclear sites. While some lawmakers urged withdrawal from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to it. Araghchi hinted that a final decision on future cooperation with the IAEA would be announced soon but emphasized that “diplomacy still has room.” Talks with the U.S. to revive the broader nuclear deal collapsed after Israel’s June attacks on Iranian facilities.

In his first major media interview in almost twenty years, BNP acting chairman Tareq Rahman shared insights on his party’s strategy for the upcoming elections, the governance of the Awami League, and Bangladesh’s election-centric politics. The interview drew attention from political analyst Mirza Galib, who praised Rahman’s choice of words and the absence of a self-centered narrative, highlighting his repeated references to “the people” and “the country.” Galib also commended Rahman’s candid discussion of the Awami League’s oppressive past and his clear critique of its governance. However, he noted Rahman’s evasive stance on the question of banning the Awami League and his unclear position on internal BNP reforms. Galib suggested that without organizational strengthening, BNP may struggle to ensure good governance even if it comes to power.

Amid a prolonged drought in South Sudan, remote villages like Lohobohobo rely on traditional rainmakers to secure crops and livelihoods. Solomon Atur, a local rainmaker, was blamed for failing to bring rain and fled in fear, but was forcibly returned and buried alive by villagers. This tragic event underscores the deadly consequences of extreme superstition compounded by food insecurity and climate stress. Over the past four decades, several rainmakers in the disappearing mountain ranges have faced similar fates, including burial, burning, or exile. Experts say the climate crisis, recurring droughts, and rising frustration among agrarian communities are fueling violence against traditional practitioners, reflecting the dangerous intersection of environmental hardship and local beliefs. Al Jazeera confirmed the incident through multiple sources, including family members and local officials.

Elon Musk has unveiled plans to create Grokipedia, a new open-source digital encyclopedia designed as an alternative to Wikipedia. Built on XAI’s chatbot Grok, the platform aims to provide “more neutral, intelligent, and limitless” knowledge, according to Musk. He invited users on the X platform to contribute, promising a collaborative space where information is free from political bias. Musk has often criticized Wikipedia for left-leaning tendencies and even offered $1 billion to acquire it in 2023. The announcement comes amid renewed controversy around Wikipedia, as co-founder Larry Sanger called it “a propaganda machine” and accused administrators of censoring conservative and libertarian perspectives. With Grokipedia, Musk seeks to position his platform as a major competitor in the global knowledge and technology space, sparking curiosity and debate among tech enthusiasts and information seekers alike.

In Raipur, Laxmipur, a tragic accident occurred on Monday evening when 15-month-old Jannatul fell off her father’s motorcycle and suffered fatal head injuries. The incident took place around 7:00 PM on Haidarganj Road, Amtoli area. The child’s father, Shipon Hossain, who recently returned from abroad, and her mother were injured when the mother’s scarf got entangled in the motorcycle wheel, causing both to fall. Jannatul was seated in front on the motorcycle and hit her head in the accident. She was rushed to Raipur Government Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. Following a written request from the family, the body was handed over without a post-mortem. The child was laid to rest in the family cemetery after the Asha prayer, leaving the family devastated by this unexpected tragedy.

During a large-scale operation conducted by the Malaysian Immigration Department, a total of 97 illegal immigrants were arrested in the busy areas of Klang and Kajang, Selangor, including 24 Bangladeshis. The operation, carried out by a special task force led by JIM Putrajaya on Sunday evening, involved around 90 officers and targeted areas long reported to harbor foreigners living under temporary work visas (PLKS) illegally. Officers checked the documents of 884 individuals, detaining 97 foreigners, including employers or local recruiters. The arrested individuals ranged in age from 18 to 62 and included citizens from Indonesia, Myanmar, India, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka. Investigations are ongoing under Malaysia’s Immigration Act 1959/63. The detainees were taken to Beranang Immigration Depot in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur International Airport Depot for further legal proceedings.